Airdrie City council voted unanimously in favour of second and third reading of a pair of debenture bylaws that will see the City borrow more than $9 million, on Feb. 17.

The projects getting the go ahead are the reconstruction of 40th Avenue and the construction of a west Airdrie reservoir pumphouse.

Total project cost for 40th Avenue is slated at $6.6 million and the cost associated with the reservoir pumphouse is set at $12.6 million, both construction projects were approved in the 2014 budget by council on Dec. 16, 2013.

Council approved first reading on bylaws on Jan. 20 that would allow the City to debenture $6.2 million for the reservoir pumphouse and $3.2 million for 40th Avenue.

Construction of 40th Avenue is expected to commence this spring and the roadway will be a two-lane connecting route between the neighbourhoods of Cooper’s Crossing and Hillcrest.

Mayor Peter Brown explained on Jan. 20 the need for borrowing the funds was to stay out in front of the development needs of the community.

“We’re looking ahead to what the community needs and the development levies that we have collected have not covered the costs of these projects,” said Brown. “These debentures will be paid off in full from the interest collected from development levies.”

There was no date set for start of the projects as of press time.

Freedom to Read week

From Feb. 24 to March 1 will now be known as Freedom to Read week at the Airdrie Library.

The nation-wide program aims to promote literacy enthusiasts with books that have been deemed “banned” by government regulations.

The family event has readers placed “behind bars” until bidders have reached a set amount of money to let the reader out of jail.

See related story on page 13.

Time honoured

Brown presented honourary rocks to Aldermen Ron Chapman, Allan Hunter, Kelly Hegg and Fred Burley for time served on council. The award commends the five, 10 and 15 year increments of service.

City Manager Paul Schulz presented Brown with a honourary rock for his first term of service.

“It’s not very common to have a first-year politician come in and move into the mayor chair,” Schulz said.

“The Airdrie rock is the celebration of years of service and the foundation of the rock is the bedrock of the City of Airdrie,” he said.

Challenges issued

Burely informed council of the Boys and Girls Club’s April 26 Roaring 20’s gala, and made a motion to challenge all councillors who could not attend to sell a table of eight in their place.

“Each ticket is $50 so if you sell a table of eight it would be a $400 donation,” he said. “If we can (try) to get the community more involved.”

Hunter put forward a motion to direct staff to look into initiating a reading board in City Hall, where upcoming public hearings and open houses for municipal issues could be posted to help the public see what issues are before council.

Both motions were unanimously approved.

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